Enjoy the fall season in all its pumpkin glory without having to go to Jersey. (Courtesy of Flickr)
By Bailey Hosfelt
With the month of October coming to a close and two short weekends standing in between now and Halloween, there are many events in New York City to make the most of the holiday season.
Although the Big Apple does not boast as much green space as an expansive suburb with the best pumpkin picking farm, the five boroughs still know how to embrace the festivities with a wide range of events. So take a break from midterms and take in all the city has to offer before the window for spooky and seasonal activities expires.
Melt Bakery
For all Fordham students who are still mourning the loss of the Good Humor ice cream sandwiches on campus in all places except the occasional vending machine, Melt Bakery is the place to be. This Manhattan locale specializes in one thing: ice cream sandwiches. The shop’s latest creation, “The Jack,” puts pumpkin pie ice cream in between two decadent cookies. Priced at $5 (cheaper than the coveted PSL at Starbucks), this sweet treat can be found at 132 Orchard St.
New York Haunted Hayride
Described as the city’s spookiest haunted house after it made waves last year, New York Haunted Hayride is back and ready to hear you scream. The attraction, created by Ten Thirty One Productions, is located at Randalls Island Park. General admission comes to $37 and gives those who dare to enter access to the haunted hayride, the new house of shadows and purgatory. Doors open at 7 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday until Halloween.
Big Apple Crunch
Thursday, Oct. 20 marks the fifth annual Big Apple Crunch, a GrowNYC sponsored event to celebrate New York farms and promote locally grown fruit. Participants in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn along with schools, hospitals, colleges, retail establishments and more across the state will share a crunch at lunch. With the 2016 goal of two million participants, people can head to the main event at the Union Square Greenmarket at 12 p.m where the festivities will unfold.
Giant Pumpkin Weekend
Starting this Saturday at the New York Botanical Garden, monstrous pumpkins — some weighing over 1,800 pounds — from all over the country will be on display for two days. This event is in collaboration with the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth and will give visitors the ability to meet growers to learn how these gigantic gourds came to be after taking pictures of their prized possession. Make sure to check out the Scarecrows: From the Heartland to Horror exhibit before you go. Sculptor and artist Ray Villafane’s original installation explores how the scarecrow evolved from its agriculture role to a spooky touchstone to Halloween. Both are sure to impress.
NYC Parks Outdoor Films
NYC Parks holds free movie screenings at various spots in the city throughout the year for everyone from film buffs to families. This month is no exception. While a majority of the movies are intended for younger audiences, there are a couple that may have greater appeal among college students. Classics like Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Picture Show will come to Brooklyn on Oct. 24 at Fort Greene Park and Oct. 29 at the McCarren Park Pool Deck, respectively.
Haunted Lantern Tours at Fort Totten Park
While this location does not bode well with any public transportation options from the Bronx to Queens, Fort Totten Park is an Uber ride away. Grab a carful of friends and drop the pin because an Urban Park Ranger is waiting to guide you through the park’s haunted Water Battery Gate. The group’s leader will provide everyone with a lantern for the journey and share ghostly stories that make history a part of Halloween. This one-night-only event takes place on Oct. 28 and is free of charge. Participants are asked to arrive before 8 p.m. to ensure admittance.
Village Halloween Parade
If there is one event that is quintessentially Halloween in New York, it is the Village Halloween Parade. Taking place on the holiday itself from 7 to 11 p.m., all of the ghouls and goblins in Gotham flock to celebrate the affair. For those who have a costume worth showing off and would like to walk in the parade, arrive at Sixth Ave. and Canal St. early. This year’s theme is reverie and people are encouraged to show up in something that expresses their inner fantasies and dreams. The parade route will be most congested along Sixth Ave. between Bleeker at 14th St., so those who intend to watch should head to W Houston or 16th St. for a less crowded spot.
